A 1-year-old girl was airlifted to an area hospital Wednesday evening with burns from a cooking accident. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is investigating the matter as a child abuse case, spokesman Doug Tobin said. The child suffered burns on her back, Tobin said. A Pasco Fire Rescue dispatcher said the burns were caused by hot water. The Sheriff's Office did not release the family's name, address or other information Wednesday night.

DADE CITY

PHCC trustees have a new leader

The Pasco-Hernando Community College Board of Trustees has selected a tried education leader as its new chairman. Tom Weightman of Dade City, a retired longtime Pasco school superintendent, won unanimous support to head the board. He replaces Irvin Homer, who remains on the board as a trustee. The board also unanimously chose Deborah Kilgore of Brooksville, a retired banker, as its vice chair. Weightman, who was vice chairman last year, has served on the board since 2003, and Kilgore since 2005. Their terms will be for the 2008-09 school year.

SAN ANTONIO

Rock truck, pickup collide on I-75

A pickup collided with a rock truck and slid onto the shoulder after blowing a tire on Interstate 75 Wednesday afternoon. The Florida Highway Patrol said Archie Jefferies Jr., a 56-year-old Ocala man, lost control of his 2002 Ford while heading north near the St. Joe Road exit. When the right front tire blew, Jefferies swerved and hit a rock semitrailer, which did not stop. Jefferies, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in critical condition. His passenger, 39-year-old Chris Stride of Dunnellon, suffered minor injuries. Stride was wearing a seatbelt, the FHP said.

HOLIDAY

Man questioned in bank robbery

Detectives on Wednesday questioned a man suspected of robbing a Bank of America branch on Bartelt Road near U.S. 19, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said. Authorities said a man handed a note to a bank teller and received an undisclosed amount of cash about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday. He got into a Chevrolet Cavalier and left the bank at 4539 Bartelt Road. About 15 minutes later, Cpl. Marshall Maseda pulled over a Cavalier near Grand Boulevard, south of Moog Road, that matched the suspect's vehicle. The deputy noticed a backpack sitting on the front seat and found cash inside, though it's unclear if the backpack contained the same amount of money stolen from the bank, the spokesman said. The Sheriff's Office did not release the man's name Wednesday.